NEWS

The government has just announced in a statement that Mr Machar "indefinitely called off" the scheduled trip whereas his spokesman had earlier confirmed his arrival.

The permission to land supposed to be given to the chief of staff General Simon Gatwech Dual appears to be the sticking point. On the one hand, the government is showing reluctance to deliver such permit, if it means arriving with lots of extra soldiers and heavy weapons. On the other hand, Mr Machar's spokesman has warned that the trip will be further delayed, until the general is allowed to come.

Rebel leader Riek Machar was supposed to arrive in Juba yesterday to be sworn in as first vice-president in a new unity government - a move that is expected to constitute a major step on the path toward the end of the civil war.